Dr. Spiff

When you do decide that you really need the wet sponge, (you really do need it), the question becomes where to put it. One of the best receptacles for a soldering sponge is a cat food can. They are made out of aluminum, dirt cheap, and will contain the water just fine. The best approach is to get a packet of sponges from the dollar store. Look for something about 3"x5". Fold a couple of these sponges in half and insert them into the cat food can so the ends stick up. The ends will be about 3/8" higher than the edge of the can. The edges do a great job of wiping the tip of the soldering iron, much better than the flat area of the sponge. Fill the sponges with water from the tap and you are good to go.
Just a thought,
Dr. Spiff

SparkFun is an online retail store that sells the bits and pieces to
make your electronics projects possible. Whether it's a robot that can
cook your breakfast or a GPS cat tracking device, our products and
resources are designed to make the world of electronics more accessible.

In addition to products, SparkFun also offers
classes and online tutorials to help educate
individuals in the wonderful world of embedded electronics.